Bottle carrier loading machine



May 17, 1960 l. D. GLAzER BOTTLE CARRIER LOADING MACHINE Filed May 3l,1957 5 Sheets-Sheet I1 INVENTOR /rv/'ng D. Glazer ATTORNEYS J Now m May17, 1960 1. D. GLAZER 2,936,558

BOTTLE CARRIER LOADING MACHINE `Filed May 3l, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/g./0 F/ge INVENTOR /rw'ng D. 6702er ATTORNEYS May 17, 1960 l. D. GLAzl-:R2,936,558

BOTTLE CARRIER LOADING MACHINE Filed May 3l, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR /r w'ng D. G/azer ATTORNEYS May 17 1960 v l. D. GLAzz-:R2,936,558

BOTTLE cARRxER LOADING MACHINE:

Filed May 3l, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR F/g'g /rv/'ng D. G/azerATTORNEYS May 17, 1960 l. D. GLAzl-:R

BOTTLE CARRIER LOADING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 3l, 1957INVENTOR /rv/'ng D. Glazer MM BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent@ BOTTLEcARRmR LoADrNo MAcmNn Irving D. Glazer, Dallas, Tex., assigner to DuraPak Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation oi' Delaware ApplicationMay 31, 1957, Serial No. 662,741 21 Claims. (C1. 53-196) This inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in bottle carrier loadingmachines.

One object of the invention is to provide yan improved machine forloading bottle carriers of the type adapted to suspend a plurality ofbottles by their neck portions, which machine is of such constructionthat a plurality of carriers may be automatically and simultaneouslyengaged with the neck portions of a case of bottles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle carrierloading machine having means for placing a bottle carrier over thecapped heads of a plurality of bottles into engagement with their neckportions by relative movement between the carrier and bottles axially ofthe bottles whereby said carrier may be quickly and economically loaded.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved machine, ofthe character described, wherein a plurality of bottle carriers arepositioned for engagement with a case of bottles which are held againstdisplacement while the carriers are forced into engagement with the neckportions of the bottles, the case of bottles being advanced intoposition for loading or connection with said carriers and being releasedafter such loading or connection for removal from the machine.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved machine,of the character described, which inciudes a reciprocal carriage havingbottle engaging means and bottle carrier feeding means movable therewithand :arranged to receive a case of bottles therebeneath whereby thebottles are held against displacement by the bottle .engaging means upondownward reciprocation of the carriage for receiving the carriers fromthe feeding means, said carriers being forced onto said bottles by rammeans reciprocal relative to said carriage.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine, ofthe character described, wherein the bottle engaging means includeslongitudinal members for bearing against the enlarged lower portions ofthe bottles 4and individual elements for bearing against the cappedheads of said bottles with the ram means being engageable with thebottle carriers between the elements, said members being arranged topermit advancing movement of said bottles therebetween before and afterbeing loaded in said carriers.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved automaticmachine, of the character described, wherein a case of bottles isadapted to be advanced beneath the carriage which is lowered to move itsbottle engaging means into contact with the bottles, the bottle carriersbeing fed to said bottles and forced thereon, the ram means and carriagebeing raised to permit removal of the case of bottles loaded in thebottle carriers by the advancement of a following case.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference 2,936,558 Patented May 17, ieeeice to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention isshown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a bottlecarrier loading machine constructed in accordance with the invention,the carriage and ram being lowered,

Fig. 2 is an end elevational View of the machine with the carriage andram lowered and the shuttles in retracted position,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2, with the shuttles retracted,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, sectional view of one ofthe bottle cap bearing elements,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a typical bottle carrier connected to aplurality of bottles,

Fig. 6 is a perspective View fof the longitudinal bottle engagingmembers,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the ram heads,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, longitudinal, vertical, sectional view taken online 8-'3 in Fig. 2 showing the advancing of a case of bottles to theloading mechanism,

Fig. 9 is a transverse, vertical, sectional View, taken on the line 9 9of Fig. 3,

Fig. l0 is a plan view of one 'of the magazines, taken on the line 10410of Fig. 2, and v Fig. 11 is a schematic view showing the pressure fluidactuating means and control, the carriage being raised and the bottleengaging means being omitted for clarity of i1- lustration.

in the drawings, the numeral lll designates the rectangular frame of abottle carrier loading machine embody ing the principles of theinvention and including horizontal, longitudinal channel or framemembers vl1 and similar end members 12 supported by upright legs orstandards i3. As will be explained, a conveyor 14 extends longitudinallyof the frame between the channel members lil for conducting a case A ofbottles B to and from a bottle carrier loading mechanism l5. Theconveyor 14 coacts with case advancing or pusher means 16 which is`adapted to engage and move the case beneath the loading mechanism, saidcase being removed from beneath said mechanism by the advancement of thefollowing case. The loading mechanism 15 includes a reciprocal carriage17 having means `1li for engaging and holding the bottles B againstdisplacement, `a pair of shuttles 19 (Fig. 2) for feeding bottlecarriers C from magazines 20 into position for being forced onto thebottles by a ram 21.

As shown in Fig. 5, the bottles B are of the usual type having reducedneck portions D and caps E and are adapted to be suspended from thecarrier C which has sockets or openings F and flexible jaws G forgripping the neck portions. Each carrier is arranged to support aplurality of bottles, usually six, and groups of carrier-connectedbottles, usually fou-r, are mounted in the case A with the carriersextending longitudinallyA of said case. The flexible jaws G permit thecarriers to be forced over the caps E onto the neck portions D byrelative movement longitudinally o-f the bottles. A ilexible handle H isprovided for each carrier. This type of carrier, when loaded, isparticularly adapted for hand-carrying a plurality of bottles, loaded orempty, and facilitates retail consumer distribution `of bottledbeverages and subsequent domestic handling thereof.

The conveyor 14 includes a pairof angle bars 22 overlying and extendinglongitudinally of the channels 11, and a plurality of narrow rollers 23are disposed inwardly of and rotatably supported bythe inner uprightflange of each angle bar (Fig. 2). Since the angle bars 22 are spacedfrom each other and the rollers 23 are of narrow width, said rollersengage the underside of the case adjacent its longitudinal edgeportions. Although coextensive with the frame, the angle bars and theirrollers are interrupted by the loading mechanism 15 which is disposedadjacent one end o'f said frame and which has a base plate or table 24with its upper surface substantially ush with the upper edges of therollers. Due to this arrangement, theadvancing case rides over therollers at the left end of the conveyor onto the table 24 and from saidtable onto the rollers at the right-hand end of said conveyo'r. The caseis delivered to and received from the conveyor by conventional conveyormeans which is not shown. For guiding the case along the conveyor andbeneath the loading mechanism, a pair of substantially coextensive anglebars or rails 25 are carried by stanchio'ns 26 upstanding from thechannels 11. It is noted that the guide rails 2S are continuous so as tooverlie the table and may have outwardly-flaring, left-hand end portions27.

The advancing means 16 includes an air or other pres sure uid cylinder28 which is suspended beneath the frame and extends longitudinallythereof, being pivotally connected to said frame at its right-hand endso as to be capable of limited swinging movement about a horizontal axis(Fig. 8). A piston rod 29 projects from the left-hand end of thecylinder 28 and carries an upright pusher element or plate 30 which isadapted to be reciprocated longitudinally of the frame between and belowthe rollers 23. As sho'wn in Fig. 2, the pusher plate 3i) has a pair ofupstanding arms 31 for engaging the lefthand end of a case of bottles toadvance the same along the conveyor. A flanged roller 32 is mounted oneach side of the pusher plate for engaging pairs of parallel upper andlower tracks 33 and 34 extending longitudinally of the frame below theconveyor rollers 23. The tracks are supported by longitudinal mountingplates 35 which extend from the left-hand end of the frame to theloading mechanism 15, terminating therebeneath.

Pivoted portions or switches 36 and 37 are provided at the ends of theupper tracks 33 for establishing commu nication with the lower tracks 34(Fig. 8). The lefthand switches 36 are pivoted at their inner ends so'as to hang downwardly. For maintaining the right-hand switches 37 inalinement with the upper tracks and permitting clockwise tilting of saidswitches about their intermediate pivots, springs 38 are connected tothe inner ends of said switches. Counter-clockwise tilting of theswitches 37 is prevented by adjustable stops 39 underlying their innerends. The lower tracks 34 have upwardlyinclined end portions 40 and 41which terminate in horizontal po'rtions 42 and 43 beyond and below theswitches 36 and 37, respectively. The inclined track portions 40 and 41.underlie the switches and, when said switches pivot downwardly, theirouter ends rest on said inclined portions. It is noted that the rollersare held in engagement with the tracks by the weight of the cylinder 28and that thatleft-hand end of said cylinder is supported by saidrollers.

The upper tracks 33 support the pusher plate 30 in position forengagement o'f its arms 31 with the end of a case of bottles A and thecase is advanced upon reciprocation of said plate with the piston rod 29toward the right. When the rollers 32 pass the intermediate pivots ofthe switches 37, said switches are swung clockwise into engagement withthe underlying inclined track portions 41 to' permit said rollers toride onto the lower track portions 43. The force of the springs 38immediately returns the switches to their alined or horizontal positionwhereby the inclined track portions are cleared for receiving therollers. The elevation of the track portions 43 is sucient to maintainthe arms o'f the pusher plate in engagement with the case.

Upon reciprocation of the pusher plate 30 to the left,

thejrollers 32 ride down the inclined portions 43 beneath the switches37, along the lower tracks 34 and up their inclined portions 40. Sincethe switches 36 are pivoted at their inner ends, the same are swungupwardly by the rollers to permit said rollers to ride o'nto thehorizontal track portions 42. Although the latter switches swingdownwardly when the rollers ride onto the track portions 42, saidswitches direct said rollers onto the upper tracks 33. In order toaccommo'date the pusher plate and permit positioning of a case ofbottles beneath the loading mechanism 15, a medial recess 44 is formedin the lefthand end of the table 24 (Figs. 3 and 8).

The loading mechanism includes a plurality of upright, corner posts 45which are cylindrical and which slidably support the carriage 17.Suitable nuts 46 are screw-threaded on the lower ends of the posts 45above and below the table for connecting said posts thereto. Arectangular top plate 47 is secured to the upper ends of the posts. Asshown most clearly in Fig. 3, the car* riage includes a horizontal,rectangular, flat plate 48 having apertured ears or lugs 49 at itscorners for slidable engagement with the po'sts. A pair of parallel,rectanguiar openings S8 are formed in the medial portion of the carriageplate 4S and are separated by a cross bar 5l, the opening and cross barextending longitudinally of the frame (Fig. 9). For suspending andvertically reciproeating the carriage plate, an upright, air or otherpressure fluid cylinder 52 depends from the top plate 47 and has apiston rod 53 projecting from its lower end and fastened to the medialportion of the cross bar 51 (Fig. 2).

The bottle engaging means 18, which includes longitudinal guide membersor bars 54 and 55 (Figs. 6 and 9), is disposed below the carriage plate48. A horizontal, transverse bar 57 is adjustably connected to each endof the carriage plate by stud bolts 58 extending through bosses 59 and60 and having nuts 61 screwthreaded on their ends. As shown most clearlyin Fig. 6, the guide members depend from the end bars 57 and have theirupper ends connected thereto. The members 54 are U-shaped and aredisposed medially and outwardly of the openings 50 so as to overlie theouter margins of the outer bottles and the inner margins of the innerbottles of a case. For overlying the inner margins of the outer bottlesand the outer margins of the inner bottles, the members 5S are L-shapedand positioned between the U-shaped members. Substantially coextensiveholddown ribs or members 62, which may be padded to prevent marring ofthe bottles, are carried by the undersides of the horizontal lower arms63 of the members 55 and the horizontal medial or lower portions 64 ofthe members 54. It is noted that the holddown ribs 62 are ofsubstantially the same length as the case A and have opposed, arcuaterecesses 65 in their longitudinal `margins for engagement by theenlarged lo'wer portions of the bottles B upon lowering of the carriage.Of course, only the inner margins of the outer ribs need be recessed. Inorder to permit a case of bottles, with the carriers C connected totheir neck portions N, to move from beneath the carriage 17, theL-shaped members 55 are connected to the left-hand end bar 57 (Fig. 1)so that the free ends of their horizontal arms 63 extend toward thelright and said carriers pass thereover between the U-shaped members 54.The adjustable mounting of the end bars 57 permits variation in theelevation of the bottle engaging means 18 to accommodate bottles havingnecks of different lengths.

Within the openings 50, upright bottle-top or cap bearing elements 66are suspended from the margins of theV carriage plate 48 and its crossbar 51 by transverse angular brackets 67 which are fastened to saidmargins by screws 68. As shown most clearly in Fig. 4, each cap bearingelement 66 includes a tubular housing 69 welded or otherwise secured toone of the brackets 67 and having a reduced lo'wer end to provide asocket 70 for receiving a depending ball swivel 71. A bell-shaped guidethimble 72, having an open lower end and an insert 73 of rubber or othersuitable material, is supported by the swivel 71 for receiving the cap Eof an underlying bottle. For maintaining the ball swivel in engagementwith the socket 70, a helical spring 74 is confined within the housing69 essere between said ball swivel and an end cap or plug 75 secured inthe upper end of said housing. Upon lowering of the carriage to engagethe holddown ribs 62 with the enlarged lower portions of the bottles B,the thimbles 72 are adapted to resiliently engage the bottle caps E soas to aline said bottles with the bearing elements 66. Thespring-pressed,` pivotal mounting of the thimbles facilitates thisalinement and together with the inserts 73 accommodates slightvariations in the elevation o'f the bottles. 1t is noted that the bottlecaps engage within and are surrounded by the lower portions of thethimbles to prevent cutting or other damaging of the carriers C by thesharp edges of said caps as well as damaging of the latter upon forcingof said carriers downwardly over the bearing elements onto the neckportions D of the bottles. Thus, the bearing elements coact with theholddown ribs and form a part of the bottle engaging means 10. As shownin Fig. 9, the bearing elements at the outer margins of the opening 50are of less length than the elements carried by the cross bar 51 andhave their upper ends terminating flush with the upper surface of thecarriage plate.

As shown by the numeral 76 in Fig. 3, the carriage plate 4S extendslaterally of its openings 50 to provide bases or platforms for theshuttles 19 and magazines 20. Corner posts 77 upstand from each platform76 and are connected by upper and lower longitudinal bars 78 and endbars 79 fo'r receiving two stacks of carriers C therebetween in end toend relationship (Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10). The carriers are slidablyconfined in the magazines by having their medial jaws G telescoped overupright guide rods 80 which are supported by brackets S1 extendinginwardly from the bars 78 between and inwardly of the corner posts 77.In order to permit ejection of the carriers laterally from the magazinesinto position fo'r being forced onto the bottles by the ram 21, thelower ends of the inner guide rods S adjacent the openings 50 toterminate above the platforms 76.

One of the shuttles 19 is provided for each magazine 20, being disposedlaterally outward thereof and including an air or other pressure fluidcylinder 82 secured by a horizontal bracket S2 below the platform 76 inaxial alinement with the cylinder of the other shuttle (Figs. 2 and 3).A piston rod `83 projects from the outer end of each cylinder 82 and isconnected by a yo'ke 84 to the outer ends of a pair of shuttle members85. Each shuttle member is LJ-shaped and has a pair of parallel slidebars or arms 86 confined in complementary channels or grooves 07extending transversely of the platform throughout its width (Figs. 3, 9and l0). may be formed on one side of each slide bar 86 for coactingwith an overlying guide shoe 89 secured to the platform. The inner endsof the slide bars are adapted to engage the lowermost carriers C in themagazines between their jaws G andare of reduced thickness to pro- Ivide relatively-thin extensions 90 which are disposed below the uppersurface of the platform for passing beneath said lowermost carriers as asupporting rack. As shown by the numeral 91, the shoulders formed by thereduced extensions 90 may be rounded and are adapted to bear against thecarriers with said extensions therebeneath. Due to the provision of theextensions, the adjacent overlying carriers rest on the thicker portionsof the bars upon the ejection of the lowermo'st carriers to permitretraction of said bars and positioning of said extensions beneath saidoverlying carriers. It is noted that the carriers fall through theopenings 50 of the carriage plate 48 upon outward movement of theshuttle members 85.

The ram 21 includes an upright cylinder 92 o'n the top plate 47overlying and in axial alinement with the carriage cylinder 52 and has apiston rod 93 projecting from its upper end (Figs. l and 2). A pair ofshafts 94 are connected to the piston rod 93 by a cross head 95 anddepend therefrom longitudinally of the cylinder 93, extending throughguide bushings or collars'96 mounted in A longitudinal guide rib 88 thetop plate 47 (Fig. 7). The lower end of each shaft 94 carriers anelongated, horizontal ram element or head 97 in overlying alinement withone of the carriage plate openings 50. As shown most clearly in Figs. 3and -7, each ram head 97 is substantially rectangular and has opposed,arcuate recesses 98 in its longitudinal sides for accommodating the capbearing elements 66 whereby the head clears said elements on downwardrecipro'cation through the carriage plate openings. The ram heads areadapted to bear against the carriers C, which have been 'Fed intoposition by the shuttles 19, for forcing said carriers over the caps Eonto the neck portions D of the bottles B. Although not shown,conventional guide means may be provided for maintaining the ram headsin alinement with the carriage plate openings. If desired, alongitudinal groove 99 may extend medially of the underside of each ramhead to accommodate the carrier handles H.

As shownschematically in Fig. 1l, a plurality of control valves 100,101, 102 and 103 are provided for automatically actuating the cylinders23, 52, 82 and 92 and their piston rods 29, 53, `81'# and 93 insequence. The Valve 100 is connected to the cylinders 28 and 52 by lines104 and the valve 101 to cylinders 2S and 92 by lines 106 and 107 thevalve 102 to cylinders 52 and 82 by lines 108 and 109, and valve 103 tocylinders 82 and 92 by lines 110 and 111. Bleeder valves 112 and 113 aresuitably mounted at the ends of the stroke of the piston rod 29 forreversing the reciprocation of the pusher plate 30 which carries anactuator 114, the bleeder valves being connected to the control valves101 and 102 by lines 115 and 116. The carriage plate 43 has an actuator117 for bleeder valves 113 and 119 at the ends of its stroke andconnected to the control valves 100 and 103 by lines 120 and 121. Eachpiston rod 83 has a similar actuator 122, only one of which is shown,for engaging bleeder valves 123 and 124 at the ends of its stroke andconnected to the control valves 102 and 103 by lines 125 and 126.Actuators 127 and 128 are carried by one of the ram heads 97 and thecross head 95 of the ram 21 for engaging bleeder Valves 129 and 130 atthe ends of the cylinder 92 and connected to the control valves 100 and101 by lines 131 and 132.

In operation, a case A of bottles B is advanced onto the table 24 of theloading mechanism 15 by the pusher plate 30 upon reciprocation of thepiston rod 29 in a right-hand direction. Air or other fluid underpressure is directed to the right-hand end of the cylnder 16 through theline 104 from the control valve 100 so as to reciprocate the piston rodin a left-hand direction. When the actuator 113 engages the bleedervalve 112, pressure fluid is directed from the control valve 101 throughthe line 106 to the left-hand end of the cylinder for reciprocating thepiston rod in a right-hand direction. This movement actuates the bleederValve 113 whereby pressure uid is directed from the control valve 102through the line 108 to the upper end of the cylinder 52 for loweringthe piston rod 53 and the carriage 17. As has been explained, theholddown ribs 62 and cap bearing elements 66 of the bottle engagingmeans 18 move downwardly with the carriage to position and aline thebottles. The bleeder valve 119 is actuated by the lowered carriage plate4S and pressure uid is directed from the control valve 103 through thelines to the cylinders 82 so as to reciprocate the piston rods 83 andshuttles 19 inwardly and position the carriers C over the bottles. Theshuttles are retracted immediately by the actuation of the bleedervalves 123 which direct pressure fluid from the control valve 102through the lines 109 to the opposite ends of the cylinders 82.

The bleeder valves 124 are next actuated whereby pressure fluid isdirected from the control valve 103 through the line 111 to the upperend of the ram cylinder 92 for lowering the piston rod 93 and ram heads97 to force the carriers over the bottle caps E onto the reduced neckportions D of the bottles. Upon actuation of the bleeder 7 valve 130,pressure uid flows from the control valve 101 through the line 107 tothe lower end of the ram cylinder for raising the ram heads. Thismovement actuates the bleeder valve 129 whereby pressure uid is directedfrom the control valve 100 through the line 105 to the lower end of thecylinder 52 so as to raise the carriage 17. When the bleeder 118 isactuated, pressure iluid is directed from the control valve 100 throughthe line 104 to the right-hand end of the cylinder 28 for repeating thesequence of operation so as to advance another case of bottles onto thetable 24 and remove the case ot carrier connected bottles therefrom.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope ofthe appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for loading bottle carriers having openings or suspending aplurality of bottles by their reduced neck portions including a supportfor a case of bottles, a vertically reciprocal carriage overlying thesupport, carrier magazines on the carriage, horizontal shuttles forfeeding carriers from the magazines into positions overlying the bottlesof the supported case, a vertically reciprocal ram overlying saidsupport for moving the positioned carriers downwardly to forceV theiropenings over the caps of said bottles onto their neck portions, andbottle engaging means on said carriage for holding said bottles againstdisplacement during rfeeding of said carriers and forcing of the sameonto the bottle neck prtions.

2. A bottle carrier loading machine as set `forth in claim l wherein thebottle engaging means includes bottle cap bearing elements dependingfrom the carriage and overlying the bottles, the elements extendinglongitudinally of said bottles whereby the openings of the carriers arealined with said bottles and threaded over the elements upon downwardmovement of said carriers.

3. A bottle carrier loading machine as set forth in claim 2 including ahead depending from the ram and movable between the bottle cap bearingelements for engage-ment with the carriers.

4. A bottle carrier loading machine as set forth in claim l wherein thebottle engaging means includes bottle cap bearing elements dependingfrom the carriage and overlying the bottles, the elements extendinglongitudinally of said bottles whereby the openings of the carriers arealined with said bottles and threaded over the elements upon downwardmovement of said carriers, and horizontal parallel members dependingfrom said carriage for movement into and out of engagement with theenlarged lower portions of said bottles.

5. A bottle carrier loading machine as set forth in claim l wherein thecarriage includes a plate having an opening, the ram having meansmovable through the opening for engaging the carriers.

6. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a typeused for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beveragesand Whichcarrier is substantially horizontal and suspends a plurality ofbottles by their neck portions in bottle-neck receiving resilientsockets provided in the carrier, including means for supporting a caseof capped vertical bottles, bottle engaging means includingfa pluralityof spaced apart parallel horizontal members movable vertically of thebottles into and out of bearing engagement against the en larged lowerportions of said bottles to hold the bottles against lateraldisplacement during carrier loading, means for feeding a plurality ofbottle carriers of the described type into overlying relationship tosaid bottles with the sockets of the carriers axially aligned with saidbottles, Iand means for forcing the aligned carriers downwardly over thecaps of said bottles onto the neck portions thereof, said carrier notforming an integral part of said machine and being detached from theforcing means.

7. A bottle carrier loading machine as set forth in claim 6 including avertically reciprocal carriage for supporting and moving the .bottleengaging means into and out of contact with the bottles.

8. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a typeused for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottle beveragesand which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portionsin bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier,including positioning means for supporting a plurality of bottles, meansfor positioning a bottle carrier of the described type away from andhorizontal to a plurality of bottle tops for subsequent engagementwith'the neck portions of the bottles, means for bearing against thetops of the bottles to align said carrier sockets and bottle tops priorto loading the bottles in the carrier sockets and to subsequently holdsaid bottles against lateral movement during loading of the carrier withbottles, and forcing means for effecting relative movement axiallybetween said carrier sockets and bottles so that the bottle receivingsockets pass over the tops of said bottles and onto the bottle-neckportions and thereby load the carrier, said carrier not forming anintegralV part of said machine and said forcing means not beingconnected to the carrier.

9. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a typeused for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beveragesand which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portionsin bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier,including positioning means for supporting a plurality of bottles,bottle engaging means having a plurality of elements for bearing againstthe tops of the bottles to align said bottles with the carrier sockets,means for positioning a bottle carrier of the described type away fromand horizontal to a plurality of bottle tops with the sockets of thecarrier positioned to thread over the elements during loading of bottlesinto the sockets by subsequent engagement of the neck portions of thebottles by the sockets, and forcing means for effecting relativemovement axially between said carrier sockets and bottles so that thebottle receiving sockets pass over the tops of said bottles and onto thebottle-neck portions and thereby load the carrier, said carrier notforming an integral part of said machine, and said forcing means notbeing connected to the carrier.

10. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a typeused for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beveragesand which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portionsin bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier,including means for supporting a case of capped vertical bottles, meansfor engaging the bottles to hold the same against lateral displacement,said bottle engaging means including a plurality of elements for bearingagainst the caps of the case of bottles to align said bottles with theopenings of the carriers, means for feeding a plurality of bottlecarriers of the described type into overlying relationship to saidbottles with the sockets of the carriers axially aligned with saidelements and bottles, and means for forcing the aligned carriersdownwardly so that the carrier sockets thread over the elements and capsof the bottles onto the neck portions thereof, said carrier not formingan integral part of said machine.

11. A bottle carrier loading machine as set forth in claim l() whereinthe forcing means includes ram elements for engaging the carriers, saidram elements being movable between the cap bearing elements.

12. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a typeused for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beveragesand which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portionsvin 9 A bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier,including table means for supporting a plurality of bottles, rack meansfor supporting a bottle carrier of the described type thereon and awayfrom and horizontal to a plurality of bottle tops for subsequentengagement with the neck portions of the bottles, and forcing meansseparate from the table means having a ram thereon for effectingrelative movement axially between said carrier and bottles by applyingpressure to the carrier so that the bottle receiving sockets are pressedover the tops of said bottles and onto the bottle-neck portions andthereby load the carrier, said ram having a carrier pressure-applyingsurface movable from above the tops of the bottles to a point below andbetween the tops of the bottles and to at least about the neck portionsthereof.

13. The machine of claim 12 in which the forcing eans and ram arevertically reciprooative.

14. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a typeused for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beveragesand which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portionsin bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the oarrier,including positioning means for supporting a plurality of bottles, amagazine for holding a plurality of empty carriers, means for deliveringa bottle carrier of the described type from the magazine to a positionaway from and horizontal to a plurality of bottle tops for subsequentengagement with the neck portions of the bottles, and forcing means foreffecting relative movement axially between said carrier and bottles byapplying pressure to the carrier so that the bottle receiving socketsare pressed over the tops of said bottles and onto the bottle-neckportions and thereby load the carrier, said forcing means not beingconnected to the carrier and being displaceable away from thebottle-loaded carrier upon engagement of the bottles by the carrier.

15. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a typeused for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beveragesand which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portionsin bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier,including positioning means for supporting a plurality of bottles,reciprocating bottle engaging means for securing the bottles againstlateral displacement during subsequent carrier loading, means forpositioning a bottle carrier of the described type away from andhorizontal to a plurality of bottle tops for subsequent engagement Withthe neck portions of the bottles, and reciprocating forcing means havinga ram thereon for effecting relative movement axially between saidcarrier and bottles by applying pressure to the carrier so that thebottle receiving sockets are pressed over the tops of said bottles andonto the bottle-neck portions and thereby load the carrier, said ramhaving a carrier pressure-applying surface movable from above the topsof the bottles toa point below and between the tops of the bottles andat least to about the neck portions thereof.

16. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a typeused for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beveragesand which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portionsin bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier,including positioning means for supporting a plurality of bottles, meansfor positioning a bottle carrier of the described type away from andhorizontal to a plurality of bottle tops for subsequent engagement withthe neck portions of the bottles, bottle engaging means having aplurality of elements for bearing against the tops of the bottles toalign said bottles with the carrier sockets, each of said elements beingshaped conically to expand a socket as it threads downwardly thereon,and forcing means having a ram thereon for effecting relative movementaxially between said carrier and bottles by applying pressure to thecarrier so that the bottle receiving sockets are spreadably pressed downthe conical elements and acess-ss 10 over the tops of said bottles andonto the bottle-neck portions and thereby load the carrier, said ramhaving a carrier pressure-applying surface movable from above the topsof the bottles to a point below the tops of the bottles and to at leastabout the neck portions thereof.

17. A machine according to claim 16 in which the conical elements have alower area which enshrouds the bottle top and protects the carriersocket from being cut by bottle-cap edges.

18. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a typeused for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beveragesand which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portionsin bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier,including positioning means for supporting a plurality of 11p-rightbottles beneath a reciprocating carriage, bottle engaging means on thecarriage comprising a first means for steadying the bottles againstlateral movement and a second means for aligning the bottle tops, meansfor positioning a bottle carrier of the described type away from andhorizontal to a plurality of bottle tops for subsequent engagement ofthe neck portions of the bottles by the carrier sockets, andreciprocating forcing means having a ram thereon for effecting relativemovement axially between said carrier and bottles by applying pressureto the carrier so `that the bottle receiving sockets are pressed overthe tops of said bottles and onto the bottle-neck portions and therebyload the carrier, said ram having a carrier pressure-applying surfacemovable from above the tops of the bottles to a point below the tops ofthe bottles and at least about the neck portion thereof.

19. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a typeused for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beveragesand which carrier suspends -a plurality of bottles by their neckportions in bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in thecarrier, including positioning means for supporting a plurality ofup-right bottles beneath a vertically reciprocating carriage, bottleengaging means on the carriage comprising a first means for steadyingthe bottles against lateral movement and a second means for aligning thebottle tops, a magazine on the carriage for holding a stack of emptycarriers, means on the carriage for conveying an empty carrier from themagazine to a position above and horizontal to a plurality of bottletops for subsequent engagement by the carrier sockets with the neckportions of the bottles, and vertically reciprocating forcing meanshaving a ram thereon mounted on the carriage for effecting relativemovement axially between said carrier and bottles by applying pressureto the carrier so that the bottle receiving sockets of the carrier arepressed over the tops of said bottles and onto the bottle-neck portionsand thereby load` the carrier, said ram having a carrierpressure-applying surface movable from above the tops of the bottles toa point below the tops of the bottles and at least about the neckportion thereof.

2D. A machine according to claim 19 including means for advancing agroup of bottles at a time onto the bottle supporting means whereby theadvancing group of bottles moves the group of carrier-connected bottlesoff of said supporting means.

2l. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a typeused for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beveragesand which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portionsin bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier,including table means for supporting a case of capped bottles, rackmeans for supporting a plurality of bottle carriers of the describedtype thereon over and horizontal to all of the capped bottle tops in thecase for subsequent engagement with the neck portions of the bottles,and forcing means separate from the table means having rams thereon foretfecting relative movement axially between said carrier and bottles byapplying pressure to 1 1 the carriers so that the bottle receivingsockets are pressed over the tops of said bottles and onto thebottle-neck portions and thereby load the carriers, said rams havingcarrier pressure-applying surfaces movable from above the tops of thebottles to a point below the tops of the bottles and at least about theneck portion thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS ArnesonAug. 26, 1952 Birch Ian. 19, 1954 George Sept. 24, 1957

